While many of my classmates planned to go to Germany, I felt strongly that my path would be different. I took my time deciding, knowing deep down that once I left my home, it would be a permanent step. It wasn’t an easy choice, especially since my family struggled with the idea of me moving away. Arriving in the Netherlands was both thrilling and liberating. I immediately connected with my new teacher, Paul Komen, and I will always be deeply grateful to him, as well as to my teacher in St. Petersburg, Tamara Poddubnaya. Their belief in me and their dedicated guidance shaped my musical foundation and gave me the courage to grow. Everything I had learned about discipline and technique began to evolve, and I discovered joy in music — not just through instruction, but through inspiration and exploration. In my third year, Paul, my teacher encouraged me to audition for a solo performance with an orchestra. I was allowed to choose my own repertoire, and there was no hesitation — I chose Prokofiev’s First Piano Concerto. Around that time, I also met my husband, which made the experience even more special. Winning the audition was a dream come true, and my mother traveled to the Netherlands for the first time to attend the concert. Soon after, I was invited to perform Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto, and at age 24, I toured the Netherlands and Sweden performing Shostakovich’s First Piano Concerto — another landmark in my career as a pianist. Today, I continue to grow as an artist and educator. I work in the private vocal studio of Eva-Maria Westbroek and Frank van Aken, where I accompany singers during lessons. I also collaborate with Annett Andriessen, accompanying her students while she teaches. In addition to these roles, I independently coach singers on operatic and Lied repertoire, helping them explore the musical and emotional depth of their roles —and I offer coaching language and diction for Russian repertoire. Over the years, I have played in various ensembles, from small groups to orchestras, fulfilling my lifelong dream of making music together with inspiring colleagues who have been a true source of joy and motivation. For me, playing music is like storytelling. Every piece is a chapter, each with its own emotion, color, and character. I feel that music is deeply connected to nature — the movement of the wind, the rhythm of the water. It’s about expression, connection, and joy.